Day 43 of 100 Happy Gaming Days: James Pond II Codename Robocod

Dr Maybe has kidnapped all of the penguins at the North Pole and taken over Santa's Workshop! Never fear, because James Pond is here and in this 2D platforming sequel he's got a brand new robot suit allowing him to walk on land and stretch to great heights. No more awkward, difficult to control swimming for Mr Pond.

The aim of the game is to rescue all of the penguins in each level and make your way to the exit. Robocod boasts a huge variety levels each with their own unique theme, some examples include toy boxes, bathrooms, musical notation, candy, factories, fun fairs, barns and even a world crafted entirely from Penguin Biscuits. Occasionally levels can be difficult to navigate as it wasn't always clear where you were meant to be meant to be going, but it was fun getting lost and discovering hidden exits to bonus levels.

James Pond 2 hosted a wide variety of enemies in all shapes and sizes, with huge intimidating bosses waiting for you every 3 levels or so. Luckily Robocod had a selection of power ups at his disposal, including invincibility and a strange toupee that allows him to fly. The best items however, are the three vehicles in the form of a car, plane and a flying bathtub (not sure why they bothered with the plane when you have the flying bathtub), these made levels easier to explore but strangely they didn't protect you from harm much.

The music was a strange mix of repeating melodies and Christmas carols. The constant ramble of slightly annoying tunes doesn't seem to affect the player, but those close by may be driven to insanity after an hour of so of Robocod's soundtrack.

All in all though, it's a classic platformer with some charming visuals and a great sense of humour. So suit up, hold on to your fins and prepare to pick up some Penguins. 

Cannon Fodder

Cannon Fodder is an Action Strategy title that sees you leading a squad of soldiers through 72 levels, accomplishing various missions. This usually involves eliminating every enemy but can also involve destroying their bases while minimising civilian casualties. The game has been on my 'to finish' list for what must be two decades; and I still can't complete it.

The game is presented from a top-down perspective so you can get a view of your surroundings, whilst also having the opportunity to scout for enemies and develop your approach. All of your soldiers carry automatic rifles and in later levels you can pick up grenades and bazookas.

Cannon Fodder is accompanied by one of the finest and most memorable soundtracks of all time, but funnily enough it's only present during the opening title sequence and loading screens. The actual in-game action has no background music, only the sound effects, which in my opinion is one of Cannon Fodders most unique features that allow you to be immersed in the game.

Cannon Fodder also caused controversy when British newspaper, the Daily Star, denounced the game for its slogan 'War has never been so much fun.' and revealing plans to depict a Remembrance Poppy on the box art. The game was heavily criticised by politicians and the British Legion, believing the game was disrespectful and trying to make war seem humorous. The Remembrance Poppy was removed from the box art, although it was still shown in cutscenes, but developers insisted the game was an anti-war statement and there is one (iconic) scene that provides evidence of that.

Before you start any mission you're shown a grass covered hill that is surrounded by a queue of men in civilian clothing. Whenever your mission requires a larger squad, or if you lose any soldiers, whomever is at the front of the queue is taken through a door to join your ranks. The hill later becomes populated with headstones giving a visual representation of how many lives have been lost, and once you get into the later stages of the game the hill can become completely hidden.

When I think back on this scene I don't think I've ever laughed when I've watched the hill slowly disappear. I only ever felt sad as the next recruits were ushered through the doors, while the game's 'Lost in Service' theme plays in the background.

I believe Cannon Fodder did something that no game had ever done before; showing war for the miserable waste of human life and ingenuity it really is. Now we have war games being released by the barrel load every year, and Cannon Fodder paved the way for them, but I don't think Call of Duty or Battlefield will ever make a statement as poignant as Cannon Fodder.  

Note: This was originally going to be a part of my 100 Happy Gaming Days series, and even though Cannon Fodder is a tremendously fun game, I feel including it in the series distorts the message so I'll leave it as a stand alone post.